KTRV Channel 12 suspends its news program

Boise’s former Fox affiliate, KTRV Channel 12, suspended its news program indefinately Dec. 5.

The television station lost its affiliation with FOX in early in 2011 and has been operating independently since then, running syndicated shows while producing its own news program.

Station manager Rick Joseph said in a news release that the “the new business model we find ourselves having to adopt does not include news.”

KTRV’s parent company, Block Communications, Inc., made the decision to axe the news program due to the station’s independent status, said Bill Lamb, Block Communications vice president.

“A network affiliate requires a different business model than does an independent station. As a result a reduction in staff is taking place this week,” Lamb said in a statement.

Block Communications, which is based in Ohio, and KTRV did not return messages Dec. 5.

It is unclear how many people within the organization will lose their jobs. Lamb said the company is trying to relocate news operation employees to other stations when possible.

KTRV News anchor Stacey Skrysak said employees cannot comment on the announcement, but sent several tweets about the news.

“Not much to say. It’s true. I’m now actively looking for a job,” she said in one tweet. “Extremely sad day,” she said in another.

Lamb said the move does not mean the station has any plans to leave Boise.

“We are still absolutely committed to competing in Boise. We are staying in the Boise market, we will compete aggressively for any network affiliations that come available and we may even restore the news at some point in the future,” he said.